HUMBLE, TX (11/06/2015) — Jose Damian was killed on Sunday when a drunk driver struck him as he was changing a tire along the highway.
Authorities have identified 17-year-old Jose Damian as the victim of a drunk driving accident that occurred on along the shoulder of Highway 59 near FM 1960 in Humble, Texas.
Investigators stated that Damian and his siblings were traveling to a truck show in Pasadena to celebrate his 17th birthday, which had occurred two days prior.
On their way to show, the family got a flat tire and pulled over to fix it at around 5:00 a.m. However, just as they were finishing up, a Dodge sedan—driven by 32-year-old Charles Baxter Jr.—rear-ended their pickup truck. Damian died on the scene.
Police reported that Baxter was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
“You feel shocked, feel sadness, you feel anger, grief, disbelief, and it’s all coming at you at one time and that’s coming from and adults so I can’t imagine what these kids are going to right now,” said Justin Upreach, a teacher at NCHS, who taught Damian last year as a freshman.
Baxter was unconscious and taken to a nearby hospital. He has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter and possession of a controlled substance.
This accident remains under investigation.
